5 Big Sports Clashes You Can’t Afford to Miss this Weekend

The Premier League and Rugby Championship take a break this weekend, but that doesn’t mean there’s not some serious sporting action to be captivated by. Here are the standout matches you can’t afford to miss:

Cape Verde v South Africa (World Cup 2018 qualifiers)

Friday, 20:30

With the brief hiatus of the domestic football leagues, the attention shifts to the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. There are some big games in the Africa region including South Africa’s clash with Cape Verde. Coming off of a 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso away from home, before edging out Senegal 2-1 in a home fixture, Bafana are looking in decent form to notch up another win and put themselves in good stead to battle for the top of Group D.

Ulster v Cheetahs (Pro 14 rugby)

Friday, 20:35

With a lack of international rugby tests this weekend, there’ll be a keen interest on the domestic competitions, and more specifically, how the South African teams will fair in the new Pro 14 tournament in the Northern Hemisphere. The Cheetahs are up first, and they take on an experienced and deadly Ulster side full of stars. There’s a serious sense of unpredictability around this match, and while the Cheetahs are able to knock over the biggest teams, one has to think that this Ulster side has the calm and experience to take this one.

Free State Cheetahs v Sharks (Currie Cup)

Saturday, 16:15

With the Pro 14 kicking off up North, and the two SA franchises sending their best teams abroad, the squads that remain in SA to compete in the Currie Cup have been somewhat depleted. The Cheetahs are missing their key players and will be giving a lot of the younger individuals a chance at provincial rugby. As a result, the Sharks, with their big-names back in tow, should have more than enough to put the Cheetahs away in Bloemfontein.

Federer v Lopez (US Open Tennis)

Saturday, 17:00

Roger Federer will continue his storming run towards his 6th US Open championship win when he faces off against another 35-year-old, Feliciano Lopez of Spain, for a place in the last 16. Traditionally, the Swiss has had a good record against Lopez, beating him in all 12 past encounters, but the Spaniard looks to be in good form to test Federer’s resolve. It should be a cracking match, but Federer’s temperament and endurance should see him through this third round battle.

Scarlets v Kings (Pro 14 rugby)

Saturday, 18:30

Like the Cheetahs, the Southern Kings will embark on their new Pro 14 adventure this weekend, and first up on their fixture list are the defending champions, the Llanelli Scarlets. While the Kings have been able to dazzle crowds in Super Rugby this year, the Scarlets are an incredibly experienced and clinical team that managed to blow away even the best competitors last season. The Kings may put some points on the board, but it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to stun a Scarlets side full of Welsh stars.